Milking-machine claw



May 27 1924.,

MILKI NG MACHINE CLAW Filed Sept. 20,

l ,49.5, 745 l.; HULBERT 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I3. c i J n o' W/T/VESS.

May 27 1924. 1,495,745

l i J. HULBERT MILKING MACHINE CLAW Filed sept. 2o. 192x 2 sneetssnen 2 iatented May'Z?, 1924.

JOHN L. HULBERT, or ponerme-Erste, NEW YORK, assIGNoa 'ro .THE 13E nevar. snranafron COMPANY, or NEW YORK, Y., a cojRroRerroN or NEW JERSEY.

MILKING-MACI-IINE CLAW.

Application filed September 20,1921. Serial No. 502,017.

T all tti/710711- t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN L. Hummm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, ycounty of Dutchess, and State Cil of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in MilkingfMachine Claws, of which the following vis a full, clear,` and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to clusters or .claws of milking machines and particularly to those adapted for use with teat cups each of which has two chambers; an inner chamber to receive the teat and which is connected with Athe milk pail and a source of suction; and an outer or inflation chamber which receives pneumatic pulsations, preferably by alternately connecting the same with atmosphere and with a partial vacuum.

The clusters or claws to which my invention more particularly relates are those comprising a milk chamber connected with the inner teat cup chambers and the milk pail, a pulsationchamber, and a valve operable from a master or primary pulsator and adapted to connect two of the outer teat cup chambers with suction while connecting the other two with pressure and alternately therewith reverse said connections. An example of such a cluster or cla-w is contained in the Leitch Patent No. 1,255,186Febru ary 5, 1918. The present invention involves the use and adaption of certain features of this patent, but it also embodies other features of importance and utility, such, for er:N ample, as those which allow the air fromthe pulsation chambers of the teat cup to eirvhaust directly into the milk chamber ofthe claw, as in the Forsyth Patent No. 1,257,688, February 26, 1918.

For sanitary reasons it is necessary that the parts of the machine witlrwhich the milk l comes in contact, such as the .milk chamber of the claw, shall be frequently and thoroughly washed. On the other hand, moving partsk that require to be lubricated, such as the pulsation member of the claw, should preferably be kept out of the wash water. The objects of the present invention are: to provide a claw in which the pulsation member and milk 'member are securely fas.- tened together when in usebnt may be easily separated at the time for washing; to provide in the claw straight and easily cleaned passages; to avoid substantial strain on the flexible pipes connecting the claw with the teat cups; and to adapt the claw to that type of milking machine wherein the vair from the pulsatlon chambers of the teat cups exhausts into the milk chamberof the claw. i

In the drawings, which show embodiments of the invention:

Fig. l is a. longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view. y Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 `of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment. t Figg is a sectional view of a modified de-` Fig. 6 is a general view showing the milk? ing machine claw connected wth the teat cups, the milk palil and the sources of vvacuum and pulsation.

The cylindrical milk member a, ofthe cluster has oney open end adapted ffor con.- nection with a flexible tube 80 leading to the milk pail 8l. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) Suction is maintained 4in the milk pail by any mea-ns known in the art, as by a tube 3Q, connected with a vacuum pipe linev83 in .turn connected with a vacuum pump (not shown). Two pairs of radial branch tubes orv stumps b and c are adapted for connection, throughflexiT ble tubes 81, with the milk chambers 85of two pairs of teat cups 86. i n

The end of the milk member a opposite to its open end is threaded and shouldered to receive a cap or closure d.' Adjacent to the closedv end ofthe milk chamber'S up,.- standing .projection c shaped toform a'seat or socket for one end .ofl a detachable cylin. drical valve member g. Extending through this projection, preferably at an obliqueV angle to the axes of the milk chamber land valve chamber, is a channel f, one end of the channel opening into the interior of the' milk chamber and the other end of the lchannel opening into the valve chamber. y

The cylindrical valve chamber gis open at both ends. VOne end seats in the. projection e ofthe milk chamber, as. above de? scribed. The same end ofthe .valve chamber carries a projectionftv adapted to extend into a recess in the upper wall of the seat for such end of the valve chamber, whereby preferred the two members of the claw are prevented from turning relatively to one another.

Threaded on the other end of the valve chamber is a tube or nozzle el the neck of which is adapted for connection with a flexible tube 37, which is in turn connectible with the primary pulsation pipe line 38 of the system.

A Washer 7c is confined between the projection e and one end of the valve chamber. A washer y' is coniined between the other end of the valve chamber and the head of the nozzle e'.

The neck of the tube or nozzle z' extends through a forked member m upstanding from the milk member a. Threaded on the neck of the nozzle z' is a nut a having a hub adapted to be screwed outward against the forked member m and, when in that position, to enter a. seat countersunk in the forked member m, thereby holding the nozzle end of the valve member from being lifted.

rlhe valve chamber has an atmosphere port p and two pairs of ports s and t com municating respectively with radial tubes or stumps o and to adapted for connection respectively through tubes 39 and 4:0 with the outer or pulsation chambers 41 and 4-2 of the respective pairs of teat cups.

The valve has a head slidable in the portion of the valve chamber of larger diameter, a head slidable in the portion of the valve chamber of smaller diameter and a connecting neck. The head of larger diameter has a groove adapted to register in one position of the valve with ports t. An axial passage .a extends through the valve from the groove 7/ to the end of the small head of the valve.

In operation, the pneumatic pulsator valve ai, when in one position (say in the position shown in Fig. l) admits atmospheric air, through port 7) and ports s and nozzles 21, in to the outer chambers 41 of one pair of teat cups, while air exhausts from the outer chambers 42 of the other pair of teat cups through nozzles fw. ports t, groove y, passage a, and channel j" into the milk chamber (L. When the valve a' is in the opposite position, atmospheric air is admitted, as shown in Fig. 6 through port p and ports t and nozzles to, into the outer chambers 42 of the second pair of teat cups, while air exhausts from the outer chambers 41 of the rst pair of teat cups through nozzles fu, ports .e and channel f into the milk chamber a.

To disassemble the two members of the claw, the nut n is screwed toward the left (Fig. 1), thereby moving the hub of the nut from its seat in the forked member m. This Y allows the nozzle end of the valve member g to be lifted above the seat of the fork and permits the valve member to be drawn to the right away from its seat against the projection e on the milk member a. Thereby the channel f may be cleaned. By unserewing the tube or nozzle z', the valve a2 may be removed from the valve chamber g and the latter may be readily cleaned, if desired. The milk chamber may be readily cleaned by removing the end cap or closure (Z.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the parts c, el, e, f, 7c, p, s, t, fu, fw, a', 'y and .a are the same as in the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. rlhe valve member YlO is of slightly enlarged internal diameter at the right hand end and its enlarged part is internally screw-threaded to receive the nozzle or tube 11 adapted for connection with the pulsation tube 37. rllhe corresponding end of the milk member 12 is externally screw-threaded to receive a nut 13 with an undercut end. A mating side lug 11i on the valve member is adapted to lit around the bottom of the milk member and receive pressure from the nut 13. The parts may be readily detached by merely unscrewing the nut 13.

lt is desirable, but not necessary, to provide a check valve between valve chamber g and milk chamber u, of the claw to prevent the possibility of back flow of Vthe milk from the milk chamber. 'lhe valve may be conveniently positioned in the channel (corresponding to f in Fig. l) of the projection (corresponding to e in Fig. 1) on the milk member. n Fig. 5, 2O is the milk member, 21 the projection, 22 the channel formed therein, 23 a ball valve in the channel adapted to coact with the orifice in washer 24;, and 25 a stop limiting the movement of the valve oif its seat.

In all the embodiments of my invention hereinbefore described it will be .noted that the radial stumps b, Z) and c, o are arranged in two planes high above the horizontal and that the radial stumps fu, fu and w, fw are arranged in two planes at a lesser angle to the horizontal and that the lengths of the stumps and the angles of the planes are such that the ends of the stumps approximately coincide with the lines of intersection of the planes. By this arrangement, provision is made for equality of length between the milk tubes and the pulsation tubes (measured from the bottoms of the teat cups) Thereby, in applying the milking machine to the claw, there is but a slight difference in bending between the two sets of tubes and the weight of the cups is divided between them. At the same time there are no crooked passages (such as would obstruct cleaning) in either set of stumps.

While my invention is more particularly applicable to the type of claw or cluster set forth in the part of this specification immediately following the preamble, the, construction herein disclosed is readily adaptable to differently acting .pulsators ,and teat cups without departing from my invention.

Except in those claims wherein the capacity for separation or detachment of the two members of `the claw is specified, it is not intended to limit the invention thereto, inasmuch as the relative arrangement oi: the stumps of the two members, the arrangement of ports including conm'iunication between one end of the pulsation cylinder and the passage in the milk member, and the provision of a check valve between the pulsation cylinder and milk passage, possess advantages that are not dependent upon the separable .character of the two members of the claw.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A milking machine cluster comprising a. milk member having a milk passage, tubes supported thereon adapted tor connection with the teat chambers of double chamber teat cups and comn'iunicating with the milk passage, a separable pulsati'on member having a valve chamber, tubes supported thereon adapted for connection with the inflation chambers of vdouble chamber teat cups andr a member affording a milk passage, a separa-- ble pulsation member affording a valve chamber, a valve in the valve chamber, there being an opening in the valve chamber adapted to be connected with a source of pneumatic pulsations whereby the reciprocation of the valve is controlled, tubes supported on the valve chamber adapted for connection with the inflation chambers of double chamber teat cups, and a channeled projection on one end of the milk member affording an end seat for the valve member and a. means for exhausting air from the valve chamber into 'the milk passage, there being ports and passages adapted, in the reciprocation of the valve, to connect the tubes of the pulsation chamber alternately with atmosphere and with the end seat of the valve.

A milking machine cluster comprising a member affording a milk passage, a separable pulsation member affording a valve chamber, a projection on the milk member affording a seat :for one Lend of the pulsation member, and means to hold the other end of the pulsation member fromdetachment from the milk member, said means comprising an adjustable element adapted -to be. operated to release the latter end of the pulsation member to allow .the pulsation member lto be withdrawn from its seat.

4. A milking machine cluster comprising a member affording a milk passage, a separa-ble pulsation member affording a valve chamber, a channeled projection on ,one end of the milk member affording an endr seat for the valve member and a means of communication between the valve chamber and the milk passage, and means to hold the other end ,of .the pulsatio-n member from detachment from the milk member, said means comprising an adjustable element adapted to be operated torelease the latter end of the pulsation member to lallow it to-be withdrawn from its seat. Y

5. A milking machine cluster comprising a member affording a milk passage, va separable pulsation member affording a valve chamber, a channeled. projection on one end of the milk member affording an end seat for the valve member and a means o communoationV between the valve chamber and the milk passage, means to hold the other end ofthe pulsation member from detachment from the milk member, said means being operable to release the pulsation member and allow it to be withdrawn from its seat, and coacting means on the two members adapted, when the pulsation member vis locked to the milk member, to prevent the pulsation member from turning on its axis relative to the milk member.

6. A milking machine cluster comprising a member affording a milk passage, a separable pulsation, member affording a valve chamber, means affording communication between the two members and a socket to receive one end of the pulsation member, and adjustable means on one member and stationary means on the other member adapted to coact to force said end of the pulsation member into said socket.

7. A milking machine cluster comprising a milk member, a pulsation member, one of said members being provided with a socket at one end portion and open toward the other end, an end of the other member adapted to enter the socket, a projection on one member, and a nut threaded on the other member-adapted to engage such projection and force said end of the last named member into the socket. I

8. In a milking machine claw, in combination, a member having a milk passage and kfour approximately radial stumps in two planes, and a member having a pulsation passage parallel with the milk passage and four approximately radial pulsation stumps in two planes, the four passages from the milk passage to the ends of the iirst men tioned stumps and from the pulsation passage to the ends of the second mentioned stumps being straight, the length of the stumps and the angles of the planes being such that the ends of the stumps approximately coincide with the lines of intersection of the planes.

9. In a milking machine claw, in combination, a member having a milk passage with four approximately radial stumps in two planes, a member having a pulsation passage parallel with the milk passage, and four approximately radial pulsation stumps in two planes, the four passages from the milk passage to the ends of the first mentioned stumps and from the pulsation passage 'to the ends o't' the second mentioned stumps being straight, the lengths of the stumps and the angles of the planes being such that the ends of the stumps approximately coincide with the lines of intersection of the planes, and means at one end of the claw affording communication between said passages.

10. In a milking` machine claw, in combination, a member having a milk passage and iour approximately radial stumps in two places at angles high above the horizontal and a member having a pulsation passage parallel with the milk passage and 'tour radial stumps in two planes at a lesser angle above the horizontal, the four passages from the milk passage to the ends of the tirst mentioned stumps and from the pulsation passage to the ends of the second mentioned stumps being straight, the lengths of the stumps and the angles of the planes being such that the ends of the stumps approximately coincide with the lines of intersection of the planes.

11. ln a milking machine claw, in combination, a member having a milk passage and with the milk passage having :tour approximately radial stumps in different planes, one end of said cylinder being in communication with the milk passage, the other end adapted to communicate with a source of pneumatic pulsations, and the centre in communication with the atmosphere, and a piston in said cylinder reciprocable under the influence ot'. said pneumatic pulsations and adapted in its reciprocations to connect each pulsation stump alternately with the atmosphere and the milk passage.

12. A milking machine cluster comprising a milk member having a milk passage, tubes supported thereon adapted for connection with the teat chambers of double chamber teat cups and communicating with the milk passage, a pulsation member having a valve chamber, tubes supported thereon adapted for connection with the iniiation chambers of double chamber teat cups and communieating with the valve chamber, a valve in the valve chamber, means affording commi'inica tion between the valve chamber and the milk passage, there being ports and passages adapted, in the reciprocation of the valve, to connect the tubes of the pulsation chamber alternately with atmosphere and with said communication means, and a check valve between the milk passage of the milk member and the valve chamber of the pulsation member allowing flow of air toward the milk passage but preventing flow 0f milk from the passage into the valve chamber.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Poughkeepsie, on this 7th day of September, 1921.

J `@HN L, HULBERT.

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